Recently, you decided to let your friend borrow your iPhone, with the assurance that he would only be able to access the content you allowed. To make sure of this, you enabled Guided Access on your device, as you had done so many times before. But before long, you noticed that your friend had been accessing other apps and functions. You wondered how they were getting around the security—and then it came to your mind; the guided access not working properly!

Losing control of your privacy can feel like a nightmare and it can take hours out of your day, trying to figure out why the device isn’t limiting what can be accessed. So, what should you do? Fear not, all hope is not lost! We have written a comprehensive guide on diagnosing and resolving common issues with the Guided Access feature, so your data remains safe and sound – no matter who browses it. But before that, let’s first understand what exalt guided access is. 

What is Guided Access?

Guided Access is a feature available on Apple devices, such as iPads and iPhones, that enables you to stay on one task. This means you can lock your device into an app so you don’t have the temptation of switching to a different app or navigating away from the task you are doing. You can do this by limiting access to only certain features within that app. For instance, with Compass apps or notes apps, the home button can be deactivated so that the user cannot just exit the program. Guided Access really helps in keeping users focused on their tasks and prevents them from getting distracted by other apps on their devices.

Fixing Guided Access Not Working on iPhone or iPad

1. Force Restart 

Force Restart (guided access not working)

Whenever guided access on your Apple device isn’t working as expected, you’ll want to try and force restart the device. You can do this in one of two ways depending on the device you are using.

If it’s an iPhone 8 or later, press and release the volume up button or press and release the volume down button quickly after. Afterward, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. 

For earlier model iPhones (and iPads), you may have to press and hold both the top buttons and the Home button at the same time simultaneously until the Apple logo appears. This process works by closing all open applications which help prevent applications from causing any more potential issues with guided access not working.

2. Re-enable Guided Access Feature 

There are chances that Guided Access may not work due to a technical glitch in its own operating configurations. In such a situation, experts recommend disabling and enabling the Guided Access feature. Here is the process on an iPhone.

  • Open the iPhone Settings and go to Accessibility.  
  • Disable Guided Access without leaving the screen. 

Disable Guided Access

  • Force restart your iPhone (you can find instructions on how to do this in the first solution above). 
  • Re-enable Guided Access and check if it’s working normally. 
  • If the issue persists, try disabling Guided Access again, force restarting your device, then re-enabling it once more. 
  • If that still doesn’t work, navigate to the Accessibility Shortcut Settings and uncheck everything except Guided Access. Then Disable Guided Access one more time, force restart your device, then enable it once more and check if everything is back in order. 

3. Factory Reset your iPhone

The process is quite straightforward, but before going through with it you will want to make sure that you have a backup of all of your important data and files, just in case something goes wrong during this process.

  • To start the reset, simply navigate to Settings.
  • Scroll down to General.
  • Tap on the Reset button located at the bottom of the page. 
  • Next, select Erase All Content and Settings.

Factory Reset

  • Enter your passcode, confirm that you wish to delete everything, and then wait while your device proceeds with the reset. Depending on how much data you have stored on your device this could take some time. Once done, though, your device should be restored as new.

4. Update iOS

If you are having difficulty with Guided Access ain’t working on your iOS device, the first thing to do is make sure your iOS is up to date. Updating your device can often resolve minor issues like liquid detected iPhone issue. To check for an available update –

  • Go to Settings > General > Software Update.

Settings > General > Software Update.

  • It will show you if there is currently any software that needs to be updated.

Just as a precaution before going ahead with updating iOS, check that the device has enough charge to last through the process, it is connected to a functioning Wi-Fi network for downloading new data and a backup of all data has been created and stored. This way, whether or not updating the OS ends up solving the issue in Guided Access, all content remains safe.

5. Open From Control Center

If you are experiencing guided access triple click not working issue, one potential cause could be that the side button on your device is not working properly. In this case, you can enable guided access in the Control Center. The steps are:

  • Open Settings and navigate to the Control Center. 
  • Scroll down until you see the option Guided Access, then click on (+) to add it. 
  • Once this is done, open an app and swipe down and open the Control Center. 
  • From there, click on the Guided Access icon to access the features. 

6. Reset the Keyboard Dictionary

If a third-party keyboard connected to your Apple device is causing your Guided Access to not work, resetting the keyboard dictionary can potentially solve the issue. Here are the steps necessary to complete this step on an iPad.

  • Open Settings.
  • Click on General.
  • Choose the option Reset
  • Hit on Reset Keyboard Dictionary.

Reset Keyboard Dictionary to Fix Guided Access Not Working

  • Now you may be asked to confirm that you want to reset the iPad’s keyboard dictionary.
  • Once done, check if the problem is resolved. If it is not, check if you have paired a Bluetooth mouse to the iPad and use it to fill in the passcode and disable and re-enable Guided Access Mode.

7. Change the Passcode of Guided Access

If you are still experiencing the guided access not working issue and none of the troubleshooting steps have worked, then the next thing you should do is change the passcode for Guided Access. This will prompt a full reinitialization of the authorization modules, potentially solving the issue. 

  • First, restart your device. Then access Settings.
  • Navigate to Accessibility > Guided Access > Passcode Settings. 

Accessibility > Guided Access > Passcode Settings. 

  • From there, change the passcode and check if Guided Access has successfully been reinitialized. 
  • Keep in mind that you need to open both Passcode Settings of the iPhone to ensure a successful reset. After making your changes, run a quick test to see if everything is back up and running as normal.

Some Last Words

We hope this blog post has helped address the problem of guided access not working on your iPhone. As we said at the beginning, there are many potential causes for this issue, so it’s important to try all seven of the solutions we listed. Once you have tried them all, you should be able to enjoy using your phone without any problem. 

FAQs

Q1. Why is my guided access not working on my iPhone?

Guided Access is a feature of iOS which allows users to limit their device to a specific app. This can be beneficial for children and those with certain disabilities, as it helps them stay focused on the task at hand. 

If you are having trouble getting Guided Access to work on your iPhone, there are several potential causes. It could be something as simple as not enabling the feature in Settings; alternatively, if you have already enabled it, it might be due to an incompatible app or software update. You can also check for any restrictions placed in /Applications/Restrictions that might be impeding Guided Access usage. 

Q2. Why is guided access not starting?

You as a user can experience guided access not working issues due to multiple reasons, such as improper configuration, outdated software, an issue with the hardware, or a bug in the operating system.  

Q3. How do I turn off guided access if my home button doesn’t work?

If you are facing a home button not working issue and need to turn off guided access on your device, then turning off guided access may take some time. 

First, open an app and then press the side button (typically located at the right-hand side at the bottom) three times. This will open up the guided access settings. Then, use your finger to circle areas of the screen in order to disable it. It is important that this process is followed precisely otherwise it may not work properly.

Q4. How do I manually turn on guided access?

Turning on Guided Access manually on an iPhone is a simple process that can help you increase your device’s security and allow for more user control. To activate the feature, access the Settings app, then scroll down to the Accessibility option. You can then select Guided Access which will bring up several options that can be adjusted to your desired specifications.